My Mother Was Murdered… So I Seduced the Emperor’s Sister for Ultimate Revenge!
Chapter 21 - Fan Jian Panics! The Young Lady Is Missing? Find Her Quickly!

Chapter 21: Fan Jian Panics! The Young Lady Is Missing? Find Her Quickly!

The riverside in spring was bathed in a gentle breeze.

Sunlight spilled over the shimmering water, scattering flecks of golden light. Willow branches sprouted tender green buds, swaying softly in the wind.

Li Changsheng found a spot with a clear view and relatively calm currents. From a small cloth bag he carried, he took out a simple fishing kit—a slender bamboo rod, a few silk threads, several hooks, and a small jar of earthworms. These were all little things he had just picked up along the way by “checking in.”

Fan Ruoruo crouched beside him curiously, her large eyes blinking unwaveringly.

“Brother Changsheng, is this fishing?”

“Mhm.”

Li Changsheng responded with a hum, deftly baiting the hook and casting the line. The tiny float landed on the water’s surface, wobbled a few times, and then settled.

“Fishing requires patience,” he said softly to Fan Ruoruo.

She nodded, only half-understanding, and imitated Li Changsheng, sitting quietly beside him. She propped her chin on her small hands, her gaze fixed intently on the float.

Time passed slowly.

The riverside breeze carried a hint of moisture, brushing against their cheeks with a slight chill. Fan Ruoruo began to fidget, shifting her little bottom restlessly.

“Brother Changsheng, when will the fish come?” she whispered, afraid of scaring away the fish beneath the water.

Li Changsheng kept his eyes calmly on the surface.

“Soon.”

Thanks to the max-level fishing skill he had obtained from the system’s check-in reward, he knew the movements of the fish below with perfect clarity.

No sooner had he spoken than the float suddenly jerked downward. With a slight flick of his wrist, Li Changsheng bent the bamboo rod into a graceful arc.

“Ah! It moved, it moved!” Fan Ruoruo cried out in delight, her little face flushing with excitement.

Li Changsheng remained unhurried, steadily controlling the rod. He could feel a considerable force tugging from below. Patiently, he played with the fish.

After a short while, a lively, thrashing grass carp emerged from the water. The fish flopped on the grass, splashing droplets everywhere.

“Wow! Such a big fish!” Fan Ruoruo’s eyes widened in amazement. She had never seen such a large fish before.

“Brother Changsheng, you’re amazing!”

The little girl’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

Li Changsheng unhooked the fish and tossed it into a prepared bucket nearby, his movements crisp and efficient.

Not far away, an old fisherman who had been sitting there for a long time glanced at his own empty net, then at the large fish Li Changsheng had just caught. His face twisted with frustration.

These two kids have ridiculously good luck.

Especially the boy—he looked no older than five or six, yet his fishing technique was incredibly seasoned. The way he lifted the rod and played the fish clearly marked him as an expert.

How bizarre.

The old fisherman shook his head, rebaited his hook, and cast again, feeling sour inside.

Looks like I’m going home empty-handed today.

Being outdone by two children was not a pleasant feeling.

Fan Ruoruo circled the bucket excitedly, watching the big fish swim inside, overjoyed.

“Brother Changsheng, this fish is so fat!”

“Mhm.”

Li Changsheng rebaited the hook and cast again.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes!”

Fan Ruoruo nodded vigorously, her little braids bouncing.

“I love all the fish Brother Changsheng catches!”

A faint smile tugged at Li Changsheng’s lips.

“If I catch more later, I’ll give you the biggest one.”

“Really?”

Her eyes instantly lit up like stars.

“Thank you, Brother Changsheng!”

Her voice was sweet and crisp, brimming with delight.

Li Changsheng didn’t respond further, focusing again on the water. Soon, the float moved once more.

Another fish, though not as large as the first, was still impressively sized, soon joined the catch. Fan Ruoruo cheered again.

The old fisherman nearby twitched at the sight.

Are they trying to drive me mad?

Did I forget to check the almanac before leaving today?

Meanwhile, at the Fan residence.

Inside the study, Fan Jian paced anxiously, his face dark with worry.

“Still no sign of her?”

He halted abruptly, glaring at the trembling steward before him.

The steward quickly lowered his head.

“Master, we’ve sent out every available servant to search, but… there’s still no news of the young lady.”

“Useless!”

Fan Jian roared, his voice thick with fear and frustration.

“Ruoruo has always been frail and sickly since childhood. She was supposed to stay inside the manor—how could she suddenly disappear?”

His sharp gaze swept over the servants in the room, scrutinizing them harshly.

“Who was supposed to be watching her today?”

A maid in a blue vest immediately dropped to her knees, her face deathly pale, her entire body shaking.

“P-please spare me, Master! It was my fault! I only left to fetch the young lady’s cloak, but when I returned, she was gone—”

“Fetch her cloak?” Fan Jian’s brow furrowed. “Where exactly did she disappear from?”

“F-from the western side of the back garden…” the maid stammered.

Fan Jian’s heart sank.

The western side was relatively secluded—and beyond the wall lay the streets.

“Search thoroughly!” His voice carried a barely perceptible tremor.

“Focus on the area near the western gate. Send more people, knock on every door! Even if you have to turn the entire capital upside down, bring my daughter back!”

“Yes!”

The steward hastily complied, ushering the servants out in a rush.

Left alone in the study, Fan Jian walked to the window, staring outside with a deep frown. Worry clouded his eyes.

Ruoruo…

His daughter.

Fragile and sickly since birth, she was the apple of his eye—cradled in fear of her falling, cherished in fear of her melting. She rarely even stepped outside.

How could she have vanished today?

Unless…

He didn’t dare finish the thought.

He could only pray his daughter was safe.

Otherwise…

Fan Jian’s fists clenched silently.

By the riverside, the setting sun cast a warm golden glow over the water.

The small bucket beside Li Changsheng was now filled with fish of all sizes, each one lively and vigorous.

Fan Ruoruo crouched beside the bucket, counting the fish with a satisfied smile. Her eyes sparkled with joy, nearly glowing.

Her admiration for Li Changsheng had now reached its peak.

Not only had Brother Changsheng taken her wall-climbing, bought her delicious candied hawthorns, but he had also caught so many—and such big—fish!

He was practically omnipotent!

“Brother Changsheng, you’re amazing!”

This was probably the umpteenth time she had exclaimed that today.

Li Changsheng packed up his fishing gear. Seeing the full bucket of catches, his mood was rather pleased.

He picked out the largest, plumpest grass carp, threaded a grass rope through its gills, and handed it to Fan Ruoruo.

“Here, as promised.”

Fan Ruoruo carefully accepted the fish. It was heavy, and she had to use all her strength to hold it. Her little face was full of reverence.

“Thank you, Brother Changsheng!”

She grinned, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

Spending the day fishing with Brother Changsheng and receiving such a big fish—today had been the happiest day ever!